Page 17
Story: Requiem
“Where did you get this,” I grate out, feeling my veins bulge in my neck.
She holds up her hands. “Please. I needed money. She just said to walk through the crowd and go out the emergency exit by the west stairwell.”
“The ribbon?” I grate out.
She shakes her head. “I have no idea what you’re talking about.” From within my pocket, I clench the hair ribbon in my clenched fist.”
She tries to back away while shaking her head, but I pin her in against the brick wall.
She trembles feeling my iciness, the barren winter where my soul should be, envelop her. “Please, stop. Don’t hurt me.”
I snort and grab her elbow, then lift my wrist to my mouth and order the car to come around. I shove her shivering, pathetic form in the back. She stares wild-eyed at the three-suited men who sit inside.
My crew. My gang of outlaw brothers with eyes as dead as mine wait for my next order. Tony, Johnny, and Vito would take bullets for me. Each of us would die for the other. You can’t buy loyalty like that. Two are my cousins the other a best friend I never thought I’d have. As I scan their stone-cold faces, I briefly wonder how many patrons of this city who have felt this moment. The one of utter terror as they realize they’re going for a drive with the mob. Not just any mob, The Salvatore Syndicate.
My cousins are the king’s men and my rule are absolute and unquestionable. Her body quakes and trembles, though none of us touch her never mind spare her even a glance.
“To the tunnels,” I command while my eyes search the night. She’s here. So close and yet so untouchable. I bring a closed fist to my lips. When I find Romina there won’t be once speck of her that I won’t own. I’m putting my stamp all over her. Even the far places in her mind where she might try to retreat.
I’ve learned so much on my ascent to the throne. Breaking people down bit by pit is a skill I’ve perfected.
The SUV glides through the city. Reinforcing the tunnels was one of the first things I did. Slowly, day by day my crew found the forgotten, underground pathways Chicago’s first mob used during Prohibition. Hoffa ran his crew down here. Not even the cops know about half of the tunnels.
I hit a wireless remote and like Bruce Wayne, we enter a tunnel through an open door. Down into the dark we drive. Into a cave-like canal of small roads.
By now, the imposter is shrieking. Tony backhands her once to make her shut up. She hadn’t done anything but bait the beast. I raise a napkin to her bloody lip. “Calm down. Only those that interfere with my operation get punished.”
“Why did you take, me then”
“Because I could. Because you are the missing link, I need to find her.”
“God help her.”
“She’ll need it,” I smirk.
The SUV rolls to a stop and I climb out, pulling her by the arm. She’s weak and will probably break easy. Bringing her into the literal underworld was all for show. I won’t have to break one little bone in her body. Using people’s minds against them I’ve learned is my greatest weapon.
I nod, it’s an unspoken cue for Tony and Vito to take the girl and chain her by the throat and wrists to a grate above her head.
The chains are old and covered with dried blood and rust.
“Please! I don’t even know her. It was all done over text.” Tony grins as he uses an index finger to trace her throat, move sit down her body and to pocket of her coat.
“Bingo.” His leather-gloved hand holds out a cell to me.
“Code?”
Through sobs she gives me the six-digit number. I tap them in and scroll through her texts from what’s obviously a burner phone. I hit call.
“Did he follow you?”
The sound of her voice takes my breath away. I missed the breathy, sultriness of it laced with such sweet determination.
“I sure did.”
Her pause is thick, but she doesn’t disconnect.
“The girl is innocent.”
She holds up her hands. “Please. I needed money. She just said to walk through the crowd and go out the emergency exit by the west stairwell.”
“The ribbon?” I grate out.
She shakes her head. “I have no idea what you’re talking about.” From within my pocket, I clench the hair ribbon in my clenched fist.”
She tries to back away while shaking her head, but I pin her in against the brick wall.
She trembles feeling my iciness, the barren winter where my soul should be, envelop her. “Please, stop. Don’t hurt me.”
I snort and grab her elbow, then lift my wrist to my mouth and order the car to come around. I shove her shivering, pathetic form in the back. She stares wild-eyed at the three-suited men who sit inside.
My crew. My gang of outlaw brothers with eyes as dead as mine wait for my next order. Tony, Johnny, and Vito would take bullets for me. Each of us would die for the other. You can’t buy loyalty like that. Two are my cousins the other a best friend I never thought I’d have. As I scan their stone-cold faces, I briefly wonder how many patrons of this city who have felt this moment. The one of utter terror as they realize they’re going for a drive with the mob. Not just any mob, The Salvatore Syndicate.
My cousins are the king’s men and my rule are absolute and unquestionable. Her body quakes and trembles, though none of us touch her never mind spare her even a glance.
“To the tunnels,” I command while my eyes search the night. She’s here. So close and yet so untouchable. I bring a closed fist to my lips. When I find Romina there won’t be once speck of her that I won’t own. I’m putting my stamp all over her. Even the far places in her mind where she might try to retreat.
I’ve learned so much on my ascent to the throne. Breaking people down bit by pit is a skill I’ve perfected.
The SUV glides through the city. Reinforcing the tunnels was one of the first things I did. Slowly, day by day my crew found the forgotten, underground pathways Chicago’s first mob used during Prohibition. Hoffa ran his crew down here. Not even the cops know about half of the tunnels.
I hit a wireless remote and like Bruce Wayne, we enter a tunnel through an open door. Down into the dark we drive. Into a cave-like canal of small roads.
By now, the imposter is shrieking. Tony backhands her once to make her shut up. She hadn’t done anything but bait the beast. I raise a napkin to her bloody lip. “Calm down. Only those that interfere with my operation get punished.”
“Why did you take, me then”
“Because I could. Because you are the missing link, I need to find her.”
“God help her.”
“She’ll need it,” I smirk.
The SUV rolls to a stop and I climb out, pulling her by the arm. She’s weak and will probably break easy. Bringing her into the literal underworld was all for show. I won’t have to break one little bone in her body. Using people’s minds against them I’ve learned is my greatest weapon.
I nod, it’s an unspoken cue for Tony and Vito to take the girl and chain her by the throat and wrists to a grate above her head.
The chains are old and covered with dried blood and rust.
“Please! I don’t even know her. It was all done over text.” Tony grins as he uses an index finger to trace her throat, move sit down her body and to pocket of her coat.
“Bingo.” His leather-gloved hand holds out a cell to me.
“Code?”
Through sobs she gives me the six-digit number. I tap them in and scroll through her texts from what’s obviously a burner phone. I hit call.
“Did he follow you?”
The sound of her voice takes my breath away. I missed the breathy, sultriness of it laced with such sweet determination.
“I sure did.”
Her pause is thick, but she doesn’t disconnect.
“The girl is innocent.”